What started as a peaceful Sunday morning fishing trip ended in a terrifying fight for survival—over 30 miles offshore.
Florida man Douglas Naeher, 60, has been charged with attempted first-degree murder after allegedly attacking his wife in a violent, unthinkable rage while the couple was out at sea on July 20. According to police, the incident stemmed from something shockingly minor: his fishing line snapped.
Court records reveal the couple launched Naeher’s 30-foot Sterling boat from their Holmes Beach home around 7 a.m. that morning. The pair had been married three years, together for six. But as they headed toward open water, about 33 miles off Bean Point, his wife noticed something was off. Naeher was unusually quiet—and looked angry.
Once anchored, Naeher began fishing from a bean bag chair on deck. That’s when the trouble started. When his line snapped, he reportedly flew into a rage. To avoid a confrontation, his wife decided to get into the water, floating with a pool noodle while holding onto a rope tied to the boat.
That’s when things turned terrifying.
According to the arrest affidavit, Naeher untied the rope and started the boat, leaving her adrift in the vast ocean. She later told investigators she thought he was leaving her to die—until he noticed another boat nearby and turned back.
But when she climbed back aboard, her nightmare only got worse.
Police say Naeher began punching her in the head, then stomped on her repeatedly until she faded in and out of consciousness. In an effort to survive, the woman pretended to be dead, slowing her breathing while Naeher dragged her by the hair to the back of the boat and dumped her into the water.
There, he allegedly tried to drown her, wrapping his hands around her throat and telling her, “I’m going to f—ing kill you!”
Despite the brutal beating, the woman fought to stay alive. She managed to hook her feet onto the boat’s ladder and clung on as Naeher unknowingly dragged her through the water. Believing he had succeeded in his attack, Naeher stopped the boat, unaware she was still alive.
She pulled herself back aboard once again—but was shoved overboard yet again, this time wrapping a rope around her ankle before he sped off a second time.
Amazingly, she managed to climb back aboard a third time, just as Naeher was approaching their home dock. Before he could strike again, she jumped off the boat and got away.
The woman suffered a concussion and numerous bruises in the ordeal. Police say she survived only by sheer will and quick thinking.
Naeher was arrested and is currently being held without bond.
The harrowing case is still under investigation.
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Author: thedailycrime1
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